Fresh-produce industry representatives and composting organisations have agreed to move forward with the development of “certified” compostable stickers for fruit and veg.
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has announced an agreement to expedite the shift to certified and compostable Price Look Up (PLU) stickers.
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The initiative, backed by composting organisations including the Compost Council of Canada, aims to finalise “an action plan by the end of 2024”, a joint statement read.
The non-compostable nature of most PLU stickers hinders recycling and diminishes the quality and value of compost.
The EU has called for a move to certified compostable PLUs by 2028.
“The current plasticised format is not compatible with producing quality compost nor can the stickers be easily removed during the organics recycling process and can result in the collected organics being sent to landfill or incineration, contributing to climate change and diminishing an important resource to build soil health,” Susan Antler, executive director at Compost Council of Canada and a member
of the International Compost Alliance (ICA), said.
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By GlobalDataA meeting held earlier this month in Canada convened members from the fresh-produce and composting industries, including the CPMA, the ICA, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and the International Federation of Produce Standards.
The meeting’s participants recognised the importance of a unified global standard that would align with international compost standards and potentially enhance the recycling of organic materials, contributing to reduced food loss and waste.
A draft framework, including a multi-phased roadmap and elements of a global compostable PLU standard, was outlined during the meeting.
The participants plan to bring in the stickers next year.
CPMA president Ron Lemaire said: “CPMA is delighted to see the fresh produce and composting industries work together towards a global standard for compostable PLU stickers. Given PLUs are an integral part of global fresh produce supply chains, this global dialogue is a must.
“Accelerating the adoption of compostable PLUs is a global priority given the risk that compostable PLU requirements will increasingly diverge from country to country. The coming together of fresh produce and composting industries will help reduce the burden on complex fresh produce supply chains, while also ensuring that food waste is increasingly recycled into value-added products.”
Last week, kiwifuit group Zespri and labelling firm Sinclair unveiled a new compostable fruit label.
The companies described the label as “safely compostable, breaking down and biodegrading completely without leaving harmful residues in the environment”. Consumers are able to dispose of the label in home compost bins, they said.
